Every now and then life slows down and I am again reminded about how much our life is affected by Lynch. It's not like we live in constant fear, but it's more like an awareness of something lurking in the shadows that really never goes away.
As March approaches, so does Colorectal Awareness Month and there is a push to make March 22 Lynch Syndrome Awareness Day. Many Governors & Mayors have signed proclamations of support, yet there is still so much education to be done. For my part I have contacted our small town Mayor and submitted a "Letter to the Editor" to our once weekly newspaper. Still, it doesn't seem like enough. Being in a semi-rural area of Southwest Wisconsin resources feel limited. The fact that nobody in Mike's immediate family has been tested is also frustrating. One uncle and his daughters have been tested, but not one of Mike's three siblings. I still deal with anger about that. Even my son at age 9 doesn't understand why someone wouldn't want to be tested and find out for sure.
I think we are doing the best we can with screenings for Mike and the fact he no longer has a colon relieves a bit of that anxiety. However, I can't help but think about how fast Lynch cancers can come up and sometimes it's difficult to push that fear aside. Especially because it concerns my best friend and father of my kids.
On June 25, 2010, at age 37, my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. Following a right-hemicolectomy, genetic testing determined the cause was due to HNPCC/Lynch Syndrome. On December 9, 2011 he had a subtotal colectomy.
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